Pages

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Bok Phool/Agati Fritters

Bok phool fritters

There's nothing like a quick look-around in any bustling market to keep a food blogger ignited. And I checked into the one
that's close to home and I was elated to see these blooms. During this
season when the weather turns so much cooler there's much to look
forward to. And edible blooms can be so fascinating. As I type this I can hear thunder. And rain! At this point we do not need rain after the battering we received during our l-o-n-g summer.

The white blooms of the agati /Sesbania grandiflora also known as West Indian pea are available during the cooler months of the year. Locally called bok phool, they are a delicacy and usually made into fritters with the addition of chick pea flour and a few spices. It's not only the blooms that are edible but the tender pods and leaves are also consumed. The lady who sold these blooms told me that she liked the fritters but her favourite way of having these blooms was adding them to scrambled eggs. Nothing like it, she tells me. I nod in agreement already visualizing myself rustling up the dish at home. But that will happen another day as fritters seem more tempting today...

To prepare the blooms the stamens need to be removed. Look for tiny insects that may be lodged inside. Wash gently as blooms can be so tender. I kept the stalks on much like how one might do with eggplants. The stalk is mean to be discarded.Ingredients:15 agati blooms1/3 cup chickpea flour2 tsp rice flour (I used sticky rice flour)Salt to tasteA quarter tsp soda bicarbonateA quarter tsp turmeric powderDash of chilli powder1 tsp poppy seedsA quarter tsp fennel seedsEnough oil to deep fry

Method:Mix the chickpea flour and rice flour in a bowl.Add the spices and mix well. Add some water to make a thickish batter.

Heat the oil in a pan.Dip each bloom into the batter and fry in the hot oil.This will cook very fast. Turn once so that both sides are golden and crisp.Drain on kitchen paper. The fritters taste best when they are still hot.These go well as a snack or as an accompaniment to rice/dal/sabji.